Process of preparing elastic substances.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD BLAIR EARLE, or CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIeNo'n To ,H'oon'RUBBER COMPANY, A conroRnTroN or MASSACHUSETTS.

PROCESS OF PREPARING ELASTIC SUBSTANCES.

No Drawing.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 21, 1914..

Application filed February 5, 1913. Serial No. 746,400.

by the action of one of the higher fatty acids .upon an erythrenehydrocarbon, such, for

instance, as one of the hydrocarbons of the homologous series of whichbutadiene-L3 is the lowest member.

In order to illustrate the new process more fully, the followingexamples are given:

1. Isoprene, B-methylbutadiene-LS, 1s heated in a closed vessel after 2%of its weight of stearic acid has been added, to a temperature of100-105 C. for 200 hours. At the end of this time the contents arenearly solid if pure material has been used The mass is cut up andtreated with live steam which carries away unchanged bydrocarbon andside products formed. The mass is then dried and is ready for use.

2. ,By-dimethyl-butadiene,

is heated in a closed vessel, after 2% of its weight of stearic acid hasbeen added, to a temperature of 100-110 C. for 300 hours. At the end ofthis time the contents 'are practically solid if pure material has beenused. The mass is treated with live steam which carries away unchangedhydrocarbon and side products formed. The mass is then dried and used asa substitute for rubber.

3. Butadiene-1.3 (CH ='OHCH=CH is heated in a closed vessel, after 2% ofits weight of stearic acid has been. added, to a temperature of 110 to115 C. for two weeks. At the end of this time. the contents of thevessel are solid and may be freed from unchanged hydrocarbon and sideproducts by a current of live steam.

I claim as my invention 1. The herein described process which consistsin adding one of the higher fatty acids to an erythrene hydrocarbon andsubjecting the same to heat and pressure until the mass is substantiallysolid.

2. The herein described process which consists in adding to an erythrenehydrocarbon a small percentage of one of the higher fatty acids andheating the same in a closed vessel until the mass is substantiallysolid.

3. The process 'for preparing elastic substances by heating any of thehydrocarbons of the homologous series of which butadiene-1.3 is' thelowest member with one of v the higher fatty acids in a closed vesselurit1l the mass is substantially solid. i 4. The process for preparingelastic substances by heating any of the-hydrocarbons of the homologousseries of which butadiene-1.3 is the lowest member with one of thehigher fattfy acids in the proportion of from 1 to 3% o. the acid, in aclosed vessel to temperatures from 100 to 120 C. for the period of oneto three weeks.

' '5. The herein described process which consists in adding to anerythrene hydrocarbon a small percentage of one of the higherv fattyacids, andheating the same in a closed vessel until the'contents aresolidified, and freeing the solidified product from unchangedhydrocarbon and side products by a current. of live steam.

6. .The process for preparing elastic substances or artificial rubber byheating any of the hydrocarbons of the homologous se- .ries of whichbutadiene-1.3 is the lowest member, with stearic acid, in the proportionof from 1 to 3% of the acid, in a closed vessel,

under pressure, to temperatures from 100 elastic substances whichcomprises heating a mixture of isoprene with one of the higher fattyacids until the product issubstantially solid.

8. The herein described method of preparing artificial rubber whichconsists in adding one of the higher fatty acids to isoprene andsubjecting the mixture to heat- 7 E. GRACE BROWN-E.

